Purple jade enthusiasts know this crystal brings out the best in you. But you need to bring out the best in it as well! You can do this by paying special attention to the cleaning process. This will enhance your crystal and increase its beauty and natural energies. The process includes two basic steps - the first is a simple surface clean while the second pays more attention to the jade itself.

If you went out into the field to track down your crystals, then you are undoubtedly going to have to engage in some cleaning. The rocks are going to be covered in dirt and mud. But this might also be the case with samples from an online or other retailer, especially if you are buying your crystals in bulk. Don't worry about the condition of your crystals at this stage. They are easily cleaned.

Start your cleaning with a good stiff dry brush like a tooth brush. Go over the crystal vigorously and remove as much dirt and other material as possible. When that's done, soak the crystal in warm water. If you want, add some soap or mild laundry detergent to enhance the cleaning process. This step can take several days. You need to be patient!

The next step is to dry the crystal off. But you don't want to be aggressive here. Place it in the sunlight and let it sit for several hours so that it can air dry in the sunlight.

At this point, your crystal is probably sufficiently cleaned to be added to your collection. But if you want to integrate it into a healing ritual, then you should take a few additional steps. One popular option is to soak the crystal in a salt bath - that is, you want to literally bury it in a container full of sea salt and let the salt crystals work on the larger crystal. This process can take up to a month!

Sometimes - because of the crystal or for other reasons - it is not advisable to use a pure salt bath - and you need an alternative. You might create a milder salt solution. Some practitioners will use approximately seven parts pure water to three parts sea salt - mix these up so the salt is dissolved and then let your crystal soak in the solution for several weeks. You can periodically agitate it to enhance the cleaning action.

Plenty of crystals, however, are not ideal for salt cleanses - pearls, for example, should never be cleaned with salt. Does that mean you are stuck? Not at all! You can do an incense-based smudging that will help to clean the crystals effectively.

Smudging has been used by many cultures as a means of cleansing everything from houses to ill bodies! If you want to try it with your crystals, use a traditional cleansing incense such as Sage and allow the scent to waft over the crystals. Use a feather to assist the process. Do it for a good ten minutes before you stop.

The process of cleaning crystals is not difficult but it is time consuming. Don't cut corners, however. A well-cleaned crystal will always bring your more pleasure than the alternative.